The time is World War II. The place is a brutal prison camp deep in Japanese-occupied territory. Here, within the seething mass of humanity, one man, an American corporal, seeks dominance over both captives and captors alike. His weapons are human courage, unblinking understanding of human weaknesses, and total willingness to exploit every opportunity to enlarge his power and corrupt or destroy anyone who stands in his path.
King Rat
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From Library Journal
King Rat is named after the central character in Clavell's spellbinding masterpiece about the brutality of prison camp life in Japanese-occupied, World War II Malaya. The King, an American corporal, seeks to dominate both captives and captors by his courage, profound insight into human frailties, and pragmatic American business techniques in a class-ridden society where Japanese and British actions are bound by bankrupt codes of "honor." The novel, originally published in 1962, is made more engrossing by flashbacks to the home front. Reader David Chase superbly transfers Clavell's genius as a writer to this superb audio. His skill lies in communicating the author's uproarious black humor and in his fabulous timing and phraseology. Highly recommended.
-James Dudley, Westhampton Beach, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
-James Dudley, Westhampton Beach, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
“A magnificent novel.”—Washington Post
“A dramatic, utterly engrossing novel...harsh and brutal in its revelations...James Clavell is a spellbinding storyteller, a brilliant observer, a man who understands much and forgives much.” —New York Times
“Tension wound up to the snapping point.”—Christian Science Monitor
"Breathtaking....worth every word, every ounce, every penny."—Associated Press
“Tension wound up to the snapping point.”—Christian Science Monitor
“A dramatic, utterly engrossing novel...harsh and brutal in its revelations...James Clavell is a spellbinding storyteller, a brilliant observer, a man who understands much and forgives much.” –New York Times
“A dramatic, utterly engrossing novel...harsh and brutal in its revelations...James Clavell is a spellbinding storyteller, a brilliant observer, a man who understands much and forgives much.” —New York Times
“Tension wound up to the snapping point.”—Christian Science Monitor
"Breathtaking....worth every word, every ounce, every penny."—Associated Press
“Tension wound up to the snapping point.”—Christian Science Monitor
“A dramatic, utterly engrossing novel...harsh and brutal in its revelations...James Clavell is a spellbinding storyteller, a brilliant observer, a man who understands much and forgives much.” –New York Times
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"I'm going to get that bloody bastard if I die in the attempt." Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
"I'm going to get that bloody bastard if I die in the attempt." Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Circa 1962 Clavell astounds the reader with his insight to the human condition. From the beginning until the end, King Rat never ceases to surprise and evoke the dark humor concurrent withthe grim reality of terrible circumstances. I remember seeing this book in countless rucks during Viet Nam, read and re-read, taped together, dog eared and in heavily stressed condition then, passed along.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By therosen
Format:Mass Market Paperback
King Rat has many unique aspects amongst the other novels in the Asian saga:
- It was written first, with less connections to the rest of the series.
- It's the shortest of the lot.
- It's the most autobiographical, as Clavell spent time in that same prison.
- There is the least cross-cultural interaction.
- It was written first, with less connections to the rest of the series.
- It's the shortest of the lot.
- It's the most autobiographical, as Clavell spent time in that same prison.
- There is the least cross-cultural interaction.
Having said all of this, this WWII POW survival story is a compelling study of what people do to survive. In a sense, we all become rats, with one as king. Much of the book studies the manipulations between folks vying for power. There are the Americans trying to enforce prison standards. There are people living off of rank to hold a grasp of dignity. And then there is the King of the title, who finds a way to transcend above the problems, living off the black market and a network of informants.
We are introduced to the character that most closely resembles Clavell in this novel too. Though he reappears in Noble House, we first catch the author as the King's sidekick, a downed soldier who has to struggle with where his loyalties are.
I can not recommend the series enough. Whether you go through it chronologically as written, or in the order of time periods written about, you'll find this a deep addition to the series.
By Len
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:Mass Market Paperback
A world within the world provides a laboratory for human behaviour utilized by James Clavell in this book to illustrate the clash of cultures, American, British, Australian, Japanese, and Malayan. The King is an American buying and selling, constantly looking for a profit, a way to get ahead in a world where the number one priority if individual survival. Peter Marlowe, a British air force officer, attracts the interest of the King when the latter discovers that Peter speaks the local dialect and thus, could be very useful for the purpose of trading with the natives. For Peter, their relationship develops into a friendship however the King maintains the belief that there are business partners and when that partnership is no longer of benefit to both, then all interactions between the two become irrelevant. Peter attracts the ire of a superior officer, Robin Grey, who dislikes his association with the King and his connections to a higher class from England. Robin hates the King's illegal trading which is open to anyone, no matter their origin of birth yet, at the same time, resents the rigid class structure that limits his ambitions for promotion in the British armed forces. Robin nearly dies of starvation while Peter is able to save his own life and one of his friends through his association with the King. The horrid conditions of the Japanese internment camp are made a reality by the reaction of rescuing troops at the end of the book. King Rat is a multilayered book that can be read and enjoyed by all ages.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great adventure
An American corporal manages to swindle and manipulate his way to being the "King" of a Japanese POW camp. Read more
Published on Feb 18 2004 by Tyler Tanner
5.0 out of 5 stars
ANGER AND NOSTALGIA
There we go again, after Shogun this is my second book by clavell. The best thing about the book is that the author did not try to justify the war. Japs were not the villains. Read more
Published on Dec 15 2003 by hamidbaig
5.0 out of 5 stars
No doubt breath-taking
An amazing story, so vivid it seems like Mr. Clavell transcribed a true story. Very real, thought-provoking. Read more
Published on Oct 27 2003 by brento1138
3.0 out of 5 stars
NOT AS COMPELLING AS IT SHOULD BE
This is my first James Clavell novel. In a nutshell, it is a Japanese version of Stalag 17. It is the story of American, British, and Australian POW's at Changi prison camp. Read more
Published on Oct 14 2003 by Jeff Howard
5.0 out of 5 stars
crazy fellow
king rat was set in changi, singapore.. it's a breath taking novel by james clavell.. its my first clavell's novel and already it has left an amazing impression for me.. Read more
Published on Aug 8 2003 by Pratik
4.0 out of 5 stars
Join the Rat Race
Writing about a POW camp during WWII, where British, American and Australian soldiers were kept for several years by the Japanese - in the infamous Changi prison near Singapore -... Read more
Published on July 28 2003 by andante
5.0 out of 5 stars
UTTERLY COMPELLING
This book is lumped into the "Asian Saga" series of James Clavell, and yes, it takes place in Asia, but bears no other true resemblance to the rest of the saga. Read more
Published on Feb 13 2003 by RMurray847
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not my favorite Clavell book, but ...
Although there is nothing patently wrong with King Rat, it is my least favorite of the first three books in Clavell's Asian Saga. Read more
Published on Jan 26 2003 by Preston Hunt
5.0 out of 5 stars
An unforgettable journey!
In my honest opinion, this was one of the best books I have ever read. Its unique setting, plot, and characters make for an unforgettable read. Read more
Published on Jan 21 2003 by Kyle S.
4.0 out of 5 stars
roWz
This is the first book that I've read by James Clavell and I'll have to say I will most likely be reading more of them. Read more
Published on Jan 21 2003 by GS
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